Focus control apparatus useful for image pick up apparatuses equipped with an auto focus function and method therefor

ABSTRACT

A focus control apparatus and method capable of shortening a focus adjustment time in focus control. The method includes extracting a first high frequency component depending upon a first cutoff frequency and a second high frequency component depending upon a second cutoff frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency from a video signal, generating first and second contrast signals of the video signal respectively based on the first and second high frequency components, using a quotient obtained by dividing a value of the first contrast signal by that of the second contrast signal as a parameter, exercising focus control based on the parameter, and setting the first and second cutoff frequencies so as to cause a value of the parameter to assume a peak when a focus lens in an image pickup apparatus is located in a position at a predetermined distance from an in-focus position.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/359,398,filed Jan. 26, 2009, now allowed, which claims the benefit of Japaneseapplication JP2008-028075 filed on Feb. 7, 2008, in the Japanese PatentOffice, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a focus control apparatus, and method.The present invention is suitable for, for example, an image pickupapparatus such as a video camera, an electronic still camera and acamera mechanism part of a portable telephone, equipped with an autofocus function.

A large number of conventional image pickup apparatuses such assurveillance cameras and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) cameras areequipped with the auto focus function to automatically adjust the focus.As a focusing scheme in such an auto focus function, there is a contrastscheme in which focus adjustment is conducted by utilizing the fact thatan in-focus state is attained in a position where the amplitude of thecontrast signal of a picked up video image is maximized.

In the image pickup apparatus, the picked up video image is brought outof focus or in focus by moving a focus lens in its optical axisdirection. As a result, the amplitude of the contrast signal alsochanges. In the most basic contrast scheme, the focus lens istemporarily moved in its optical axis direction, a direction in whichthe in-focus state is attained is detected on the basis of whether theamplitude of the contrast signal increases after the movement ascompared with before the movement, and the focus lens is moved in thatdirection.

In JP3079622(B2), JP3338322(B2) and JP4034409(B2), techniques concerningfocus control using the contrast scheme are disclosed. A methoddisclosed in JP-A-7-318795 and JP-A-9-133854 as a focusing processingmethod using the contrast scheme includes providing a narrow band highfrequency band component detector to detect high frequency bandcomponents from a video signal and a wide band high frequency bandcomponent detector to detect high frequency band components inclusive offrequency components lower in frequency than the high frequency bandcomponents, dividing wide band data obtained as a result of thedetection from the wide band high frequency band component detector bynarrow band data obtained as a result of the detection from the narrowband high frequency band component detector with a microcomputer,regarding a result of the division as a focus evaluation value, andexercising focus control of the image pickup apparatus on the basis ofthe focus evaluation value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the focusing scheme in the auto focus function described above, it isdesired to move the focus lens to an in-focus position as fast aspossible. As one method for that purpose, it is considered to increasethe travel velocity of the focus lens.

However, the peak of the contrast signal cannot be recognized unless thefocus lens goes past the corresponding position (in-focus position). Ifthe travel velocity of the focus lens is increased as described above,therefore, the focus lens goes past the in-focus position greatly,resulting in a problem. If such a situation has occurred, then the focuslens must be moved in the opposite direction again in order to bring theobject into focus. This poses a problem that more time is neededaccordingly until focusing is attained.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, andan object thereof is to propose a focus control apparatus, and method,which makes it possible to shorten the focus adjustment time at the timeof focus control.

In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a focuscontrol apparatus for exercising focus control in an image pickupapparatus, the focus control apparatus including a first contrast signalgenerator for extracting a first high frequency component depending upona first cutoff frequency from a video signal and generating a firstcontrast signal of the video signal on the basis of the extracted firsthigh frequency component, a second contrast signal generator forextracting a second high frequency component depending upon a secondcutoff frequency which is higher than the first cutoff frequency fromthe video signal and generating a second contrast signal of the videosignal on the basis of the extracted second high frequency component,and a controller for using a quotient obtained by dividing a value ofthe first contrast signal by a value of the second contrast signal as aparameter and exercising focus control on the basis of the parameter,wherein the first and second cutoff frequencies are set so as to cause avalue of the parameter to assume a peak when a focus lens in the imagepickup apparatus is located in a position which is at a predetermineddistance from an in-focus position.

The present invention provides a focus control method for exercisingfocus control in an image pickup apparatus, the focus control methodincluding a first step of extracting a first high frequency componentdepending upon a first cutoff frequency from a video signal, generatinga first contrast signal of the video signal on the basis of theextracted first high frequency component, extracting a second highfrequency component depending upon a second cutoff frequency which ishigher than the first cutoff frequency from the video signal, andgenerating a second contrast signal of the video signal on the basis ofthe extracted second high frequency component, and a second step ofusing a quotient obtained by dividing a value of the first contrastsignal by a value of the second contrast signal as a parameter andexercising focus control on the basis of the parameter, wherein thefirst and second cutoff frequencies are set so as to cause a value ofthe parameter to assume a peak when a focus lens in the image pickupapparatus is located in a position which is at a predetermined distancefrom an in-focus position.

According to the present invention, it is possible to exercise controlso as to decrease the amount by which the focus lens goes past thein-focus position at the time of focus control and shorten the focusadjustment time at the time of focus control.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the embodiments of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of an imagepickup apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a characteristic curve diagram for explaining cutofffrequencies of first and second high-pass filter circuits;

FIG. 3 is a characteristic curve diagram showing relations between aposition of a focus lens group and signal levels of first and secondcontrast signals;

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram for explaining a time difference betweentiming of exposure of an image pickup element and timing of execution ofauto focus control processing based on a result of the exposure;

FIG. 5 is a characteristic curve diagram for explaining relationsbetween a focus lens position and a lens position evaluation value;

FIG. 6 is a table for explaining a cutoff frequency prescription table;and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of auto focuscontrol processing according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Configuration of Image Pickup Apparatus According to Embodiment

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup apparatusaccording to the present embodiment as a whole. In the image pickupapparatus 1, a lens unit 2 includes a variator lens group 3 forvarying/multiplying a luminous flux emitted from a subject, an iris 4for adjusting a receiving light quantity, and a focus lens group 5having a focus adjustment function. The lens unit 2 forms an opticalimage of the subject on a light sensing surface of an image pickupelement 8 formed of CCDs or the like.

Furthermore, a lens origin detector (or absolute position detector) 6formed of, for example, photo interrupters, and a temperature detector 7are provided in the lens unit 2. The lens origin detector detects anorigin position of the variator lens group 3, and transmits a result ofthe detection to a controller 19 as lens origin position detectioninformation. The temperature detector 7 detects a temperature in thelens unit 2, and transmits a result of the detection to the controller19 as lens unit temperature information.

The image pickup element 8 conducts photoelectric conversion on theoptical image of the subject formed on the light sensing surface, andsends a picked up image signal to a noise removal circuit 9. Thereafter,this picked up image signal is subjected to predetermined noise removalprocessing in the noise removal circuit 9, amplified to an optimum levelin an AGC (Automatic Gain Controller) 10, converted to a digital signalin an analog-digital conversion circuit 11, and then supplied to acamera signal processor 12 as a picked up digital image signal.

The camera signal processor 12 conducts predetermined signal processingon a supplied picked up digital image signal in a signal conversionprocessing circuit 13, thereby converts the picked up digital imagesignal to a video signal of a standard signal form which conforms to,for example, the NTSC (National Television Standards Committee)standards, the PAL (Phase Alternating Line) standards or the like, andoutputs the resultant video signal to the external. The camera signalprocessor 12 generates an auto iris signal AE having a signal levelaccording to the present brightness of the picked up video, the openingdegree of the iris 4 in the lens unit 2, and the gain in the automaticgain control on the basis of the video signal, in an auto iris signalgeneration circuit 14, and sends the auto iris signal AE to thecontroller 19.

The camera signal processor 12 further includes a first contrast signalgenerator 15A which in turn includes a first high-pass filter circuit16A and a first integrator 17A, and a second contrast signal generator15B which in turn includes a second high-pass filter circuit 16B and asecond integrator 17B. In this case, a cutoff frequency f2 of the secondhigh-pass filter circuit 16B is set so as to be higher than a cutofffrequency f1 of the first high-pass filter circuit 16A as represented byK2 and K1 in FIG. 2. The first and second high-pass filter circuits 16Aand 16B are made to respectively have cutoff frequencies f1 and f2 whichcan be changed freely.

The camera signal processor 12 extracts a high frequency component of aluminance signal in the video signal generated by the signal conversionprocessing circuit 13, via the first high-pass filter circuit 16A,conducts integration processing on the high frequency component of theluminance signal in the first integrator 17A, and thereby generates afirst contrast signal VF1 shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, The camerasignal processor 12 extracts a high frequency component of the luminancesignal via the second high-pass filter circuit 16B, conducts integrationprocessing on the high frequency component of the luminance signal inthe second integrator 17B, and thereby generates a second contrastsignal VF2 shown in FIG. 3. And the camera signal processor 12 sends thefirst and second contrast signals VF1 and VF2 thus obtained to thecontroller 19.

The controller 19 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) andinformation processing resources such as an internal memory 20. Thecontroller 19 calculates an auto iris evaluation value, which is anevaluation value for the present brightness of the picked up video, theopening degree of the iris 4 in the lens unit 2, and the gain in theautomatic gain control recognized from the auto iris signal AE, on thebasis of an auto iris data processing program (AEP) and an auto focusdata processing program (AFP) 22, and acquires an auto focus evaluationvalue which is a value of the first contrast signal VF1 or the secondcontrast signal VF2.

When the focus lens group 5 in the lens unit 2 is at a predetermineddistance or more from the in-focus position, the controller 19 acquiresthe auto focus evaluation value on the basis of the first contrastsignal VF1. On the other hand, when the focus lens group 5 is within thepredetermined distance from the in-focus position, the controller 19acquires the auto focus evaluation value on the basis of the secondcontrast signal VF1. Therefore, the first contrast signal VF1 is used incoarse adjustment of the auto focus control, whereas the second contrastsignal VF2 is used in fine adjustment of the auto focus control.

When, for example, a zoom button which is provided in the image pickupapparatus 1 and which is not illustrated is manipulated, the controller19 generates a first motor control signal in response to that and sendsthe first motor control signal to a first motor driver circuit 23. Thus,the first motor driver circuit 23 drives a first motor 26 on the basisof the first motor control signal and thereby moves the variator lensgroup 3 in its optical axis direction. As a result, a zoom magnificationis changed to a value depending on the manipulation of the zoom button.

At this time, the controller 19 generates zoom magnification informationwhich represents the present zoom magnification, on the basis of lensorigin position detection information supplied from the lens origindetector 6 in the lens unit 2 and angle information which represents arotation angle of an output shaft of the first motor 26 supplied from arotary encoder which is provided on the first motor 26 and which is notillustrated. In addition, the controller 19 generates a third motorcontrol signal on the basis of the zoom magnification information, theauto focus evaluation value, and the lens unit temperature informationsupplied from the temperature detector 7, and sends the third motorcontrol signal to a third motor driver circuit 25. Thus, the third motordriver circuit 25 drives a third motor 28 on the basis of the thirdmotor control signal and thereby moves the focus lens group 5 in itsoptical axis direction. As a result, the focus is adjusted according tothe change of the zoom magnification (auto focus control).

In addition, the controller 19 generates a second motor control signalon the basis of the auto iris evaluation value, and sends the secondmotor control signal to a second motor driver circuit 24. Thus, thesecond motor driver circuit 24 drives a second motor 27 on the basis ofthe second motor control signal and thereby opens or closes the iris 4as occasion demands. As a result, the iris is adjusted on the basis ofthe brightness of the picked up image (auto iris control).

In addition, the controller 19 controls a shutter velocity of anelectronic shutter 29 so as to increase or decrease exposure time forthe image pickup element 8 on the basis of the auto iris evaluationvalue, and thereby adjusts the quantity of light of the optical image ofthe subject formed on the light sensing surface of the image pickupelement 8. In addition, the controller 19 adjusts the gain in theautomatic gain controller 10 on the basis of the auto iris evaluationvalue.

(2) Auto Focus Control Scheme in Present Image Pickup Apparatus

As shown in FIG. 4, the image pickup element 8 in the image pickupapparatus acquires a picked up video image corresponding to one field(FIG. 4(A)). Then, the camera signal processor 12 generates the firstcontrol and second control signals VF1 and VF2 on the basis of thepicked up video image (FIG. 4(B)). The controller 19 starts the focuscontrol by using one of the first control and second control signals VF1and VF2 (FIG. 4(C)). There is a time difference corresponding to, forexample, two fields (2/60 second supposing 60 fields per second, whichholds true in the ensuing description as well) between the acquisitionof the video image and the start of the focus control.

Even if the controller 19 exercised control in the image pickupapparatus so as to stop the travel of the focus lens group 5 in the lensunit 2 immediately after the peak of the first or second contrast signalVF1 or VF2 has been detected, the focus lens group 5 would already gopast the in-focus position by a travel distance corresponding to thetime of two fields.

If in this case the travel velocity of the focus lens group 5 at thetime of focus control is small, then the travel distance of the focuslens group 5 corresponding to the two-field time is not long. If thetravel velocity of the focus lens group 5 is made large, however, thetravel distance becomes long. Therefore, a long time is required toreturn the focus lens group 5 to the in-focus position.

Therefore, a quotient obtained by dividing a value (signal level) of thefirst contrast signal VF1 by a value of the second contrast signal VF2is introduced as a new parameter (VF1/VF2 which is hereafter referred toas lens position evaluation value VF1DIV2). In the present image pickupapparatus 1, the auto focus control is exercised on the basis of thelens position evaluation value VF1DIV2.

In other words, the quotient obtained by dividing the value of the firstcontrast signal VF1 by the value of the second contrast signal VF2 (thelens position evaluation value VF1DIV2) assumes a peak in each of aposition located a predetermined distance behind the in-focus positionand a position located a predetermined distance this side of thein-focus position (i.e., in each of positions located at thepredetermined distance from the in-focus position) as shown in FIG. 5.When the focus lens group 5 is located in the in-focus position, thelens position evaluation value VF1DIV2 assumes a value smaller than thevalue of each peak. In an example of the present embodiment, each of theposition located the predetermined distance behind the in-focus positionor the position located the predetermined distance this side of thein-focus position (i.e., each of positions located at the predetermineddistance from the in-focus position) is in the range of approximately180 to 220 μm from the in-focus position, although it depends upon thecutoff frequency of the high-pass filter and the travel velocity of thefocus lens group. If the subject is an ordinary subject such as a chart,a costume or scenery, then the shapes of the first and second contrastsignals VF1 and VF2 resemble closely. Therefore, the lens positionevaluation value VF1DIV2 also takes nearly the same shape regardless ofthe kind of the subject.

The timing of the lens position evaluation value VF1DIV2 assuming a peakvaries according to the cutoff frequencies f1 and f2 respectively of thehigh-pass filter circuits 16A and 16B. Therefore, it is considered thatthe focus lens group 5 can be stopped in the in-focus position or nearthe in-focus position on the basis of the lens position evaluation valueVF1DIV2 by suitably setting relations among the lens position evaluationvalue VF1DIV2 which assumes a peak in each of the position located thepredetermined distance behind the in-focus position and the positionlocated the predetermined distance this side of the in-focus position(i.e., in each of positions located at the predetermined distance fromthe in-focus position), the cutoff frequencies f1 and f2 respectively ofthe high-pass filter circuits 16A and 16B, and the travel velocity ofthe focus lens group 5.

Specifically, the cutoff frequencies f1 and f2 respectively of thehigh-pass filter circuits 16A and 16B should be set so as to satisfy thefollowing equation (1)

(c−a)=2v  (1)

where “a” is a position of the focus lens group 5 where the lensposition evaluation value VF1DIV2 which assumes a peak, v is a traveldistance traveled by the focus lens group 5 in its optical axisdirection during one field time (1/60 second), and c is a position ofthe focus lens group 5 where the first or second contrast signal assumesa peak.

However, the cutoff frequencies f1 and f2 which satisfy the equation (1)differ according to the zoom magnification and the travel velocity(motor velocity) of the focus lens group 5. In the case where it isdetected that the focus lens group 5 is located in the in-focus positionby using the above-described technique, therefore, it is necessary toacquire the cutoff frequencies f1 and f2 which satisfy the equation (1)for each zoom magnification and each travel velocity of the focus lensgroup previously by calculations or measurements, retain them as atable, and change the cutoff frequencies f1 and f2 respectively of thefirst and second high-pass filter circuits according to the zoommagnification and the travel velocity of the focus lens group 5 at thattime.

In the case of the image pickup apparatus 1, therefore, a table(hereafter referred to as cutoff frequency prescription table (CFT)) 30shown in FIG. 6 is formed by previously acquiring the cutoff frequenciesf1 and f2 which satisfy the equation (1) for each zoom magnification andeach travel velocity of the focus lens group by calculations ormeasurements and putting them together, and the cutoff frequencyprescription table 30 is previously stored in the internal memory 20 inthe controller 19.

When moving the focus lens group 5 to the in-focus position at the timeof the auto focus control, the controller 19 sets the cutoff frequenciesrespectively of the first and second high-pass filter circuits 16A and16B to the frequencies prescribed in the cutoff frequency prescriptiontable 30 on the basis of the zoom magnification and the motor velocity,monitors the lens position evaluation value VF1DIV2, controls the thirdmotor driver circuit 25 at the timing of the lens position evaluationvalue VF1DIV2 assuming a peak, and stops travel of the focus lens group5 so as to prevent the focus lens group 5 from going past the in-focusposition largely.

FIG. 7 shows concrete processing contents conducted by the controller 19as regards the auto focus control processing according to the presentembodiment. The controller 19 executes the auto focus control processingshown in FIG. 7 on the basis of the auto focus data processing program22 stored in the internal memory 20.

In other words, when power is thrown in, the controller 19 starts theauto focus control processing. First, the controller 19 drives theelectronic shutter 29, thereby exposes the image pickup element tolight, and thereby causes a picked up image signal corresponding to onefield to be taken in (SP1). Thereafter, the first and second contrastsignals VF1 and VF2 supplied from the camera signal processor 12 aretaken in (SP2).

Subsequently, the controller 19 executes computation represented by thefollowing equation (2)

VF1 DIV 2=VF1/VF2  (2)

on the basis of the first and second contrast signals VF1 and VF2 takenin at the step SP2, and thereby calculates the lens position evaluationvalue VF1DIV2 (SP3).

Subsequently, the controller 19 generates the third motor control signalon the basis of the auto focus evaluation value obtained at this time,sends the third motor control signal to the third motor driver circuit25, drives the third motor 28, and thereby moves the focus lens group 5in its optical axis direction (SP4).

Subsequently, the controller 19 reads out the cutoff frequencies f1 andf2 respectively of the first and second high-pass filter circuits 16Aand 16B which should be set at that time from the cutoff frequencyprescription table 30, on the basis of the current zoom magnificationrecognized from the lens absolute position information which is suppliedfrom the lens origin detector 6 in the lens unit 2 and the current motorvelocity recognized from the third motor control signal which is sent tothe third motor drive circuit 25 at that time. And the controller 19sets the cutoff frequencies f1 and f2 respectively of the first andsecond high-pass filter circuits 16A and 16B equal to the frequenciesread out at that time (SP5).

If a time period (1/60 second) corresponding to one field elapses sincethe electronic shutter 29 is driven at the step SP1 and time when apicked up image signal corresponding to the next one field should betaken in is reached, then the controller 19 drives the electronicshutter 29 again and thereby exposes the image pickup element 8 to light(SP6). On the other hand, the controller 19 temporarily stores one-fieldpreceding lens position evaluation value VF1DIV2 acquired at the stepSP3 into the internal memory 20 as one-field preceding lens positionevaluation value PDV1DIV2 (SP7).

Subsequently, the controller 19 takes in the first and second contrastsignals VF1 and VF2 supplied from the camera signal processor 12 (SP8).The controller 19 executes computation represented by the equation (2)on the basis of signal levels of the first and second contrast signalsVF1 and VF2 taken in, and thereby calculates the lens positionevaluation value VF1DIV2 in that field (SP9).

And the controller 19 reads out the one-field preceding lens positionevaluation value VF1DIV2 stored temporarily in the internal memory 20,executes computation represented by the following equation (3)

DIFF=VF1 DIV 2−PDV1 DIV 2  (3)

and thereby calculates a difference value DIFF between the one-fieldpreceding lens position evaluation value PDV1DIV2 and the current lensposition evaluation value VF1DIV2 (SP10).

Subsequently, the controller 19 makes a decision whether the differencevalue DIFF calculated at the step SP8 is less than “0” (SP11).

A negative result in this decision means that the lens positionevaluation value VF1DIV2 has not yet assumed a peak. Thus, at this time,the controller 19 generates the third motor control signal on the basisof the auto focus evaluation value obtained at this time, sends thethird motor control signal to the third motor driver circuit 25, andthereby controls the third motor 28 so as to move the focus lens group 5in the same direction as the direction ordered at the step SP4 as it is(SP12).

The controller 19 sets the cutoff frequencies f1 and f2 respectively ofthe first and second high-pass filter circuits 16A and 16B to valuesdepending upon the zoom magnification and the motor velocity at thattime in the same way as the step SP5 (SP13). Thereafter, the controller19 returns to the step SP6 and repeats the same processing (SP6 . . .SP11−SP6).

On the other hand, an affirmative result obtained in the decision at thestep SP11 means that the lens position evaluation value VF1DIV2 hasarrived at its peak. At this time, the controller 19 judges the focuslens group 5 to be located just this side of the in-focus position(earlier by a time period corresponding to approximately two fields)(SP14). Then the controller 19 executes fine adjustment of the autofocus control (SP15).

Specifically, if the position of the focus lens group 5 deviates fromthe in-focus position even after the above-described auto focus control,the controller 19 controls the third motor 13 via the third motor drivercircuit 25 while referring to the second control signal VF2 and therebymoves the focus lens group 5 in the direction of the in-focus position.If the focus lens group 5 has gone past the in-focus position, then thecontroller 19 controls the third motor 28 via the third motor drivercircuit 25 again so as to move the focus lens group 5 in the oppositedirection. The controller 19 converges the position of the focus lensgroup 5 upon the in-focus position by repeating such processing. Even ifsuch adjustment of the position of the focus lens group 5 is conducted,the focus lens group 5 does not go past the in-focus position largely atthe time of the coarse adjustment (steps SP1 to SP13). As compared withthe conventional art, therefore, the fine adjustment can be conducted ina shorter time period.

If the focus lens group 6 is finally located in the in-focus position,then the controller 19 finishes the auto focus control processing.

As heretofore described, in the present image pickup apparatus 1, thecutoff frequencies f1 and f2 respectively of the first and secondhigh-pass circuits 16A and 16B are set so as to cause the lens positionevaluation value VF1DIV2 to assume a peak when the lens focus group 5 inthe lens unit 2 is located in each of a position located a predetermineddistance behind the in-focus position and a position located apredetermined distance this side of the in-focus position (i.e., in eachof positions located at the predetermined distance from the in-focusposition). In addition, at the time of focus control, the lens positionevaluation value VF1DIV2 is monitored. At the timing of the lensposition evaluation value VF1DIV2 assuming a peak, the movement of thefocus lens group 5 is stopped.

According to the present image pickup apparatus 1, therefore, the focuslens group 5 can be stopped in the in-focus position or near thein-focus position with high precision at the time of auto focus control.As a result, the focus adjustment time at the time of focus control canbe shortened.

(3) Other Embodiments

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present inventionis applied to the image pickup apparatus having the configuration shownin FIG. 1 has been described. However, the present invention is notrestricted thereto, but the present invention can be applied widely toimage pickup apparatuses having various other configurations.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the cutoff frequenciesof the first and second high-pass filter circuits 16A and 16B are set soas to satisfy the equation (1) has been described. However, the presentinvention is not restricted to this. In short, it is necessary toacquire a picked up video image corresponding to one field by using theimage pickup element 8, then generate the first and second contrastsignals VF1 and VF2 on the basis of the picked up video image, and setthe cutoff frequencies of the first and second high-pass filter circuits16A and 16B in the controller 19 according to the time differenceoccurring until the focus control is started, by using one of the firstand second contrast signals VF1 and VF2.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the cutoff frequenciesof the first and second high-pass filter circuits 16A and 16B arechanged on the basis of both the zoom magnification and the travelvelocity of the focus lens (the rotation velocity of the third motor 28)has been described. However, the present invention is not restricted tothis. For example, in an image pickup apparatus which is not equippedwith the zoom function or an image pickup apparatus having a constanttravel velocity of the focus lens, the cutoff frequencies of the firstand second high-pass filter circuits 16A and 16B may be changed on thebasis of at least one of the zoom magnification and the travel velocityof the focus lens.

It should be further understood by those skilled in the art thatalthough the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of theinvention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. A focus control apparatus for exercising focus control in an imagepickup apparatus, the focus control apparatus comprising: a firstcontrast signal generator for extracting a first high frequencycomponent depending upon a first cutoff frequency from a video signaland generating a first contrast signal of the video signal on the basisof the extracted first high frequency component; a second contrastsignal generator for extracting a second high frequency componentdepending upon a second cutoff frequency which is higher than the firstcutoff frequency from the video signal and generating a second contrastsignal of the video signal on the basis of the extracted second highfrequency component; and a controller for using a quotient obtained bydividing a value of the first contrast signal by a value of the secondcontrast signal as a parameter and exercising focus control on the basisof the parameter, wherein the first and second cutoff frequencies areset so as to cause a value of the parameter to assume a peak when afocus lens in the image pickup apparatus is located at positions of apredetermined distance behind an in-focus position and decrease when thefocus lens is located behind the peak, wherein the predetermineddistance is a distance which takes account of an amount of travel of thefocus lens during a time difference occurring until the focus control isstarted in the controller based on the parameter, and wherein the focuscontrol is conducted such that, after the focus lens is moved based onthe parameter, the focus lens is moved based on a value other than thevalue of the parameter.
 2. The focus control apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the focus control is conducted such that, after acoarse adjustment of the focus lens is conducted based on the value ofthe parameter, a fine adjustment of the focus lens is conducted based onsaid other than the value of the parameter.
 3. The focus controlapparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in conducting the focuscontrol, said value other than the value of the parameter is the valueof the second contrast signal.
 4. The focus control apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein, in conducting the focus control, switching tomoving the focus lens based on the value other than the value of theparameter is made at a timing at which the value of the parameterassumes the peak.
 5. The focus control apparatus according to claim 4,wherein, in conducting the focus control, the value other than the valueof the parameter is the value of the second contrast signal.
 6. Thefocus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the focus controlis conducted such that, after the focus lens is stopped at a timing atwhich the value of the parameter assumes the peak, the focus lens ismoved based on a value other than the value of the parameter so that thefocus lens stops at an in-focus position or a position in a proximity ofthe in-focus position.
 7. The focus control apparatus according to claim6, wherein, in conducting the focus control, said value other than thevalue of the parameter is the value of the second contrast signal. 8.The focus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timedifference corresponds two fields.
 9. The focus control apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller sets the first and secondcutoff frequencies on the basis of at least one of a zoom magnificationand a travel velocity of the focus lens.
 10. The focus control apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a table whichprescribes relations between the zoom magnification and/or the travelvelocity of the focus lens and the first and second cutoff frequencies,and the controller reads out the first and second cutoff frequenciesdepending upon the zoom magnification and/or the travel velocity of thefocus lens from the table, and sets the first and second cutofffrequencies in the first and second contrast signal generators,respectively.
 11. A focus control method for exercising focus control inan image pickup apparatus, the focus control method comprising: a firststep of extracting a first high frequency component depending upon afirst cutoff frequency from a video signal, generating a first contrastsignal of the video signal on the basis of the extracted first highfrequency component, extracting a second high frequency componentdepending upon a second cutoff frequency which is higher than the firstcutoff frequency from the video signal, and generating a second contrastsignal of the video signal on the basis of the extracted second highfrequency component; and a second step of using a quotient obtained bydividing a value of the first contrast signal by a value of the secondcontrast signal as a parameter and exercising focus control on the basisof the parameter, wherein the first and second cutoff frequencies areset so as to cause a value of the parameter to assume a peak when afocus lens in the image pickup apparatus is located at positions apredetermined distance behind an in-focus position and decrease when thefocus lens is located behind each peak, wherein the predetermineddistance is a distance which takes account of an amount of travel of thefocus lens during a time difference occurring until the focus control isstarted in the controller based on the parameter, and wherein the focuscontrol is conducted such that, after the focus lens is moved based onthe value of the parameter, the focus lens is moved based on a valueother than the value of the parameter.
 12. The focus control methodaccording to claim 11, wherein the focus control is conducted such that,after a coarse adjustment of the focus lens is conducted based on thevalue of the parameter, a fine adjustment of the focus lens is conductedbased on the value other than the value of the parameter.
 13. The focuscontrol method according to claim 11, wherein, in conducting the focuscontrol, the value other than the value of the parameter is the value ofthe second contrast signal.
 14. The focus control method according toclaim 11, wherein, the focus control includes switching to moving thefocus lens based on the value other than the value of the parameter at atiming at which the value of the parameter assumes the peak.
 15. Thefocus control method according to claim 14, wherein, in conducting thefocus control, the value other than the value of the parameter is thevalue of the second contrast signal.
 16. The focus control methodaccording to claim 11, wherein, the focus control is conducted suchthat, after the focus lens is stopped at a timing at which the value ofthe parameter assumes the peak, the focus lens is moved based on a valueother than the value of the parameter so that the focus lens stops at anin-focus position or a position in a proximity of the in-focus position.17. The focus control method according to claim 16, wherein, inconducting the focus control, the value other than the value of theparameter is the value of the second contrast signal.
 18. The focuscontrol apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the time differencecorresponds two fields.
 19. The focus control method according to claim11, wherein at the second step, the first and second cutoff frequenciesare set on the basis of at least one of a zoom magnification and atravel velocity of the focus lens.
 20. The focus control methodaccording to claim 19, comprising: preparing a table which prescribesrelations between the zoom magnification and/or the travel velocity ofthe focus lens and the first and second cutoff frequencies, and readingout the first and second cutoff frequencies depending upon the zoommagnification and/or the travel velocity of the focus lens from thetable, and setting as cutoff frequencies to be used when extracting thefirst and second high frequency components, respectively.